Time To Say Goodbye

The time has come for me to say good-bye to this blog and to all the wonderful people who have followed me, left comments and encouraged me in one way or another. I will miss you, but I can no longer keep up. My interests have taken me in other directions and I can no longer give the attention to this blog as I would like to.

So, on this last day of this year, I wish you all the best for next year and the years ahead. I would like to invite you to follow me on my two other blogs: Angela's Freelance Writing and Angie's Health Coaching

Stay blessed and remember "whatever you ask In His Name, He will do it."

God bless you.

Seeing Green - A Book Review

Can you look yourself in the mirror and say you have never envied someone? Your friend, co-worker, neighbor, your favorite celebrity or even your sibling? I daresay few of us can honestly answer yes to that question. Envy, the green-eyed monster, sneaks up on us when we are not looking, and if we are not careful, it can color not just our relationship with the person we envy, but the way we see ourselves.

In her book Seeing Green,Tilly Dillehay paints a picture of envy that most of us have never considered before and causes us to take an unsettling look at ourselves. Using practical, down-to-earth language, Tilly shows us how we can identify envy in all its disguises and how, by recognizing God’s glory on the subject of our envy, we can snuff out the green-eyed monster once and for all.

Seeing Green is a book I recommend for everyone because we all harbor envy to some extent. And now you can enter for a chance to win a copy of this compelling book.

Giveaway link: https://www.blessedfreebies.com/seeing-green.html

Can A Christian Become Depressed?

Reports of famous people--Anthony Bourdain, TV personality and Kate Spade--handbag designer, who committed suicide recently drew the attention of many here in America and abroad. However, there are ordinary people committing suicide everyday whose names never appear in the news. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 45, 000 Americans died by suicide in 2016, and these numbers are said to be climbing.

People don't just get up one morning and say, "I think I'll kill myself today." They have to be depressed for some time to get to the point where they decide to take their own life. Which brings me to the question, can a Christian become depressed? If you are a Christian you should have peace and contentment at all times, right? You should be able to cope with anything that life throws your way. Wrong!

Guilt, loneliness, grief, discouragement can take a toll on the human mind and cause you to become depressed. History is full of names of famous theologians who were depressed. C. S. Lewis, Augustine, Martin Luther and C. H. Spurgeon are among some of those who were said to have struggled with depression. In fact, Spurgeon became so depressed at times he was said to tender his resignation thirty-two times in thirty-nine years.

One might be tempted to say that men like Spurgeon were so burdened by the demands placed upon them it was easy for them to become depressed. That may be so, however, depression can plague someone who has no obvious reason to be depressed. Elijah, the prophet, was a mighty man of God, who commanded great respect from the people because of the miracles he performed. He had just finished killing four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and under the power of the Lord, ran for miles to another town. But after doing all of that, Elijah collapsed in fear and went and hid himself in a cave because Jezebel threatened to kill him for slaughtering the Baal prophets.

Elijah came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. Here is what he said: “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors" (1 Kings 19: 4). Elijah was ready to die, but he didn't have the courage to take his own life.

Other Bible figures who battled depression are David, the great warrior king who God called, "a man after his own heart." Job, "a blameless and upright man," suffered a massive bout of depression when he lost everything, including his children. He cursed the day he was born, as did Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. Even Jesus was in so much agony in the garden of Gethsemane before his death that his sweat became as "drops of blood" (Luke 22: 44).

Friends, depression is no respecter of persons. It is an illness as any other and should be treated seriously as you would treat any other illness. If you are feeling depressed, here are some things you can do:

1.When people are depressed they tend to isolate themselves from the world. Elijah went and hid in a cave. Bad idea! God called him out and sent him on a mission. Make the effort to get out of bed and do some simple things, like washing your face and combing your hair.

2. Some people may not want to eat, others may eat too much. You need to eat. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” (1 Kings 19: 5).

3. Talk to someone. Job's friends came to sympathize with him when they heard about his misfortune, but they only ended up making him feel worse. Be careful who you speak to. Speak to people who will be understanding and supportive, not people who will tell you, "snap out of it."

4. Seek medical help. In Biblical days and centuries past, they didn't have the medications and resources we have today. God has given man the knowledge and wherewithal to help us. Take advantage of it.

5. Pray. When you are in the throes of depression you may be unable to pray coherently, but you can read your Bible or listen to Psalms and gospel music on tape. Best of all, be hopeful. David said, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Ps. 42:11

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I have written a novel called In the Wilderness that tells of a young Christian girl who was so plagued by guilt she became depressed and suicidal. Read this gripping story to see how God delivered her out of her depression and gave her a new perspective on life.

The Gift of Helping

A few days ago, I had the pleasurable experience of meeting someone who, I believe, has the gift of helping others. But let me back up a bit. It all came about during my attempt to make a doctor's appointment. What should have been a routine matter of picking up the phone, dialing a number and getting to speak to someone, turned out to be two whole days of wasted time. By this time, I'd become so frustrated by no one answering or returning my calls, I decided to go to the facility to make the appointment.

And that's where things became a bit interesting. I walked up to the information desk, stated my name and my reason for being there. The lady at the desk said they do not make appointments at the department I needed to visit. She very kindly gave me a number to call. This time someone did answer the phone, but informed me that they do not make appointments for the doctors. He gave me another number, which happened to be the same one I was trying to reach initially. And, you guessed it. No one answered.

By this time, I'm praying for patience and wisdom as to what to do next. I believe the Holy Spirit heard me. Back I went to the information and explained my plight to the employee. Long story short, after making several calls, she was able to locate the address for the number I had been trying to reach. I would have voted her employee of the year if I had that option. I thanked her profusely and walked out the door.

I found the address she gave me quite easily and entered the office to find it empty and just one employee sitting at the desk, arms folded. Anyway, I wrote all this to show how the attitude of the lady at the information desk contrasted sharply with the one at the office who was not answering the phone. I'll never know the reason for that one, but whether you are an employee or not, do try to help others. That woman who helped me had no idea how long I'd been calling that number or how far I'd driven only to get all that run around. What she did for me was not part of her duties. She was simply being helpful.

Paul speaks of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12: 28: "And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues." 

When we think of spiritual gifts, how many of us think of the gift of helping? Yet it is a very important gift and can take many different forms. The apostle Paul mentioned many people in his letters who were of great help to him. People like Aquila and his wife Priscilla, Timothy (whom he called his son) Lucius, Gaius and many others. Great apostle though he was, Paul could not have succeeded without their help.

Do you have the gift of help? If you are not sure, ask the Holy Spirit to show you who might need your help and how you can be helpful to them. You and they will be blessed.

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As a young nun at the Corpus Christi Home for Girls, Marva Garcia has always leaned on the Everlasting Arms for wisdom and strength to meet the day-to-day challenges of mentoring delinquent girls. But when her beloved adoptive father is killed during a Muslim coup, Marva sees her orderly world crumbling around her. As she tries to make sense of all this, Marva is increasingly drawn to another pair of arms that had been there for her all along. Can she love a man and still love God?

Self - Control - The Fruit of The Spirit

Having grown up in Trinidad, a country where kids playing soccer is an everyday occurrence, I can't help watching whenever my husband turns the channel to the World Cup Soccer games. But many times, my joy turns to dismay when I see players push and shove each other in an attempt to get the ball. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned marking and tackling and dribbling? Or better still, what happened to good old-fashioned self-control?  The players who push and shove know they are breaking the rules, yet when the referee raises his hand, they protest.

It's not much different when we allow ourselves to respond to someone in a harsh or sarcastic way, or to try to get even with someone whom we perceive has wronged us. Lack of self-control has serious consequences. In the case of the soccer player, it can result in the other team  scoring a goal and winning the game.

But lack of self-control goes much deeper than winning or losing a game. It can change the whole direction of our lives. It causes people to do things they wouldn't normally do, like consuming alcohol in excess, overspending, using illegal substances, and making poor choices. It can even lead to road rage, which can result in someone's death.

Do you need self-control? Of course you do. We all do. But temptation lurks around every corner. Remember the story of how Peter cut off the soldier's ear? That was a classic case of a lack of self-control. Peter saw the soldier about to arrest Jesus, so he pulled out his sword and cut off the man's ear. Read John 18: 10. Fortunately, Jesus restored it.

Much later, after Jesus had left this earth and Peter had received the Holy Spirit, he became a changed man. He wrote, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3: 15).  

The Holy Spirit is the Member of the Trinity who molds and shapes us into what God intends us to be. If you find that you lack self-control ask God to allow the Holy Spirit to help you exhibit this fruit in your life.                                     


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal. 5: 22 - 23

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In the Promised Land - The End of A Series

I don't think I've ever written much on this blog about my books, although I do have a page--which needs updating-- dedicated to them. For those of you who don't know, God has blessed me with the ability to write stories, and this I do in the hope of bringing Him honor and glory. I know that many of you enjoy reading novels, and so I decided to share this with you.

Coming Out of Egypt

Sixteen years ago, I started my first novel, a story inspired by two sisters who attended a school where I was a teacher. The sisters lived near Egypt Village, Trinidad, and it was rumored that they were being abused by their father. Because of the law, or lack thereof at the time, no action was taken, as far as I knew. Years later, my mind went back to them when I realized that sexual abuse is still prevalent in this modern society. In the Bible, the Israelites eventually came out of bondage in Egypt and so I combined the metaphor of the Exodus with the village where the girls lived and named my novel Coming Out of Egypt. This book is my attempt to rewrite their story, to have them come out of Egypt.

In the Wilderness

Continuing the metaphor of the Exodus, I named the second book in the series, In the Wilderness. As you know, the Israelites didn't make it straight to the land God promised them. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years after leaving Egypt.

Here is a short blurb of the series:

When Marva accidentally kills her father while trying to protect her younger sister June from him, she anticipates a new beginning far from "Egypt" where they once lived. But her new life is not what she envisioned. The strain of trying to elude the detective and cope with her rebellious younger sister while holding down her job in a man’s domain, drives her to drink. When Cicely, her former teacher, intervenes and leads the girls to Christ, Marva finds some measure of peace, but guilt over her crime and the desire to save June from disgrace force her to contemplate suicide. Fortunately, a serious accident derails her plans and both Marva and June discover their true calling – to serve God, and others, with all their heart and with all their strength.

In the Promised Land

Yesterday was the official release day of the last book in the series, In the Promised Land. The girls have come out of Egypt, gone through the wilderness and are now about to enter the promised land. However, their journey is still turbulent. Tragedy accompanies them and they lose sight of their purpose, but with God's help, they get back on track and complete their journey. I don't want to give any spoilers, so that's all I'm going to say, but let me encourage you to get these books which are all 99c until the fourth of July. They will bless your heart, renew your hope and strengthen your faith in a God who alone can bring you out of Egypt, whatever it might be.

Here's a bonus for you: Coming Out of Egypt is part of a clean, contemporary romance giveaway taking place on Instafreebie. Click on this link and claim your free copy and other books that may interest you. And when you claim your books, please sign up for my newsletter where you can get more updates like this one. God bless.

Your Hero

Happy Father's Day to all men, whether you are a biological father, stepfather or spiritual father, this message is for you. I am updating this from one of my earlier posts because I think it bears reading again.

Is your dad your hero? Some people may answer  "yes" to this question, but I know some, men especially, who will give an unequivocal "no." It always saddens me when I hear that. My own father, who departed this life when I was just a little girl, was my hero. He taught me to read and spell while he indulged his hobby/part-time occupation -shoemaking. Needless to say, I had shoes to match every dress, and love shoes to this day.

My father also cultivated in me a love for reading and I became a good speller. I enjoyed going places with him, and when I heard his voice in the front yard in the evening, I would leave my mother and run to meet him. She often complained that I loved my father more than I did her, which wasn't true, of course. I was just fascinated with him - his voice, his smile, his jokes. The only bad thing I can recall about my dad is that he left me too soon. Late at night, quite suddenly and without warning. Died of a stroke in his sleep.

So, what about your dad? Is he flawless in your eyes? A man's man? A woman's man? As head of the home, fathers carry a heavy responsibility. They are entrusted with the task of providing, protecting and caring for the home and family. The mother is the one who nurtures, comforts and keeps the home together. However, a real father assumes the mother's role as well. The father who confronts the school bully is the same father who takes his little girl on his lap and reads her a bedtime story. Or tucks her in at night. Or takes her to the doctor when she is ill.

Sadly, some dads do not measure up to the ideal. Some walk out on their families and never look back. Others stay in the home, provide and protect but do little else. We need to pray for these fathers. I think of King David, a mighty man of God, but his track record as a father left a lot to be desired. His son, Amnon, raped his daughter Tamar (2 Samuel 13: 10 - 18) and even though the Bible says David was furious (v 21) he did nothing about it. Absalom, David's other son, had Amnon executed to avenge what he had done to his sister.

Later, Absalom fled from David and they didn't see each other for two years. Eventually, Absalom tried to take the throne from David and to murder him, but Absalom himself was killed. On hearing the news, David wept bitterly. "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you--O Absalom, my son, my son!" (18: 33).

What a sad cry! You may not see your father as your hero, but remember your Father in heaven is faultless. He is perfect and will never fail you. Run to Him and make Him your hero. Happy Father's Day!